Sponge pouch assembly



April 8, 1958 c. F. J. DUPUY SPONGE POUCH ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 4, 1956 ATTORNEY.

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Application January 4,1956, Serial No. 557,342

' 4 Claims. (31. 15-122 This invention relates to a sponge pouch assembly. Sponge pouches constructed according to this invention have particular utility for holding small cakes of soap or other detergent material.

The fabrication of cleaning pouches from sponge sheets presents a number of problems which heretofore have not been satisfactorily solved. It would be desirable of course to provide a pouch design which can be constructed as simply and economically as possible. However, the pouches must also be convenient to use, and this requirement has tended to complicate the fabrication procedure.

For satisfactory performance in use, it must be relatively easy to insert cakes and pieces of soap or other detergent material into the pouch, while at the same time having the pouch constructed so that the detergent material will not be ejected from the pouch while it is being used for cleaning and scrubbing.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide sponge pouches of improved construction, which are simple and inexpensive to fabricate while at the same time providing for theconvenient insertion and holding of the detergent material. A more specific object is to provide sponge pouches which can be formed from integral rectangular sponge sheets merely by folding and stitching operations, while providing the advantages just stated. Further objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The present invention is shown in illustrative embodiments in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sponge pouch constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2, a vertical cross-sectional view of the pouch taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a plan view of a sponge sheet from which the pouch of Figs. 1 and 2 can be fabricated; Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view of the same pouch taken on line 44 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a perspective view of a modified pouch structure; and Fig. 6, a vertical sectional view of the modified pouch structure taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

As disclosed hereinafter in greater detail, my invention is concerned with a sponge assembly which is adapted to receive and hold detergent cakes and the like. In this assembly, superimposed panels of a sponge sheet material are united along three sides thereof, preferably by stitching to form an enclosed pocket between the panels. The other side of the panels provides an opening through which the detergent cakes can be introduced into the pocket, and there is also provided flap means associated with this opening and arranged to retard the outward movement of cakes through the opening while at the same time permitting the cakes to be readily inserted.

Looking first at the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4, attention is first directed to the sponge sheet or blank A as shown in Fig. 3. Blank A is preferably cut from cellulose sponge stock of a thickness from three-sixteenths to three-eighths inch. For example, good results can be obtained from three-sixteenth inch thick sheets. Other sponge stock such as rubber sponge material can be substituted with some success, but the maximum benefits of the present invention are achieved with cellulose sponge stock, as indicated.

It will be noted that blank A generally has an elongated rectangular shape. Preparatory to folding and stitching of the blank to produce the assembly of Figs. 1, 2 and 4, blank A is slit'or' cut along a transverse center line at E6 to provide an opening therethrough having edges which normally lie in contact with each other. The blank is also preferably cut on each side of slit 10 to provide inwardly-extending notches 11 and 12. It will be noted that the ends of slit 10 are inwardly spaced from the furthest extensions of notches 11 and 12.

Blank A is then doubled upon itself to form a pocket with an inwardly-extending fold at the top, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. As indicated in Fig. 3, the necessary folds are made along lines 13, 14 and 15. After the folding of the blank, the pouch is stitched along the sides and bottom thereof, as indicated at 16, 17 and 18 in Fig. l. The stitching is preferably carried up to the very top of the sides, but no transverse stitching across the 'top of the pocket or other stitching is required.

In the completed assembly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the pouch P has superimposed panels 19 and 20 providing a pocket 21 therebetween. The top of the pouch has an opening 22 thereacross which communicates with the interior of the pocket through slit 10 in the inwardlyextending fold which, as shown, consists of inwardlyextending flaps 23 and 24. As can be seen more clearly in Fig. 4, the bottom ends of flaps 23 and 24 are partially united, the flaps being integrally connected on each side of slit opening 10.

In the operation of the sponge pouch just described, detergent cakes or the like such as cake C can be inserted one after another through opening 22 between the flaps 23 and 24, and then through slit opening 10 into pocket 21. Preferably, a plurality of small cakes are employed, and these can be formed as described in my copending application, United States Serial No. 519,357, filed July 1, 1955. Alternatively, small cakes or pieces of ordinary soap can be used or other detergent material in cake form. Once the cakes have been inserted in the pouch, it is quite difiicult to remove them therefrom, but this is not necessary since ordinarily the cakes are used until completely dissolved. This retaining action is promoted by having the lower portion of flaps 23 and 24 unconnected to the side panels 19 and 20. In the illustration given, this is accomplished by notching the blank A at 11 and 12, which in the completed assembly provides the inwardly-tapering side edges of folds 23 and 24, as shown at 25 and 26 in Fig. 1. This construction permits the lower portion of the flaps to yield when contacted by a cake of soap, thus tending to draw the sides of slit opening 10 together and preventing the cakes from being forced through the opening. It is therefore preferred, but some of the advantages of this invention can be obtained if folds 23 and 24 extend for the full width of the pouch.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the retaining flap means consist of a single flap 27 which is connected to the upper edge of rear panel 20' and extends over the upper edge of front panel 19' for a spaced distance along the outside of the front panel. Preferably, as shown, the overlapping side edges of flap 27 are connected to the upper end portions of panels 19 and 20. In the illustration given, the side stitching 16' and 18' is carried upwardly to the top of the pouch P. This construction normally holds flap 27 tightly against the outside of front panel 19', thereby substantially closing opening 22 and the passage between flap 27 and front panel 19 to inner pocket opening 19. However, in introducing detergent cakes, such as cake C into the pouch structure P of Figs. 5 and 6, it is only necessary to press the side edges of the pouch together to cause front flap 27 to spring outwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The detergent cakes can then be readily inserted. To facilitate this insertion; preferably the upper edge of front panel 19' terminates below the upper edge of rear panel 20, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The direction of movement of the detergent cakes in the insertion operation can then be readily reversed after moving between flap 27 and front panel 19' to enter pocket 21 through inner opening 10'.

In the illustration given, pouch P is formed of one thin rectangular sheet of cellulose sponge material. Front panel 19 is integrally connected to rear panel 20 through a bottom fold at 28, while flap 27 is integrally connected to rear panel 20 through a top fold at 29. front flap 27 can be'made longer, extending down halfway or more on front panel 19', The shorter length If desired,

illustrated, that is, about one-fourth to one-third the height of the pouch, is preferred, however, since the hand of the user can then be placed over panel 19' with the tips of the fingers extending under flap 27. Thus, flap 27 can serve the added function of providing a means for assisting in holding the pad during a cleaning or scrubbing operation.

If desired, different parts of the pouch structures just described can be formed of different materials, but this is not as advantageous as forming the entire assembly from a single cellulosic sponge sheet. Any thread of suitable strength can be used for the stitching, or if clesired other fastening means can be used. Plastic threads, such as nylon thread, are particularly desirable because of their strength and resistance to the action of soap and water.

While in the foregoing specification my invention has been described in relation to the specific embodiments thereof and many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that my invention is susceptible to other embodiments and that many of the details described herein can be yaried without departing from the basic concepts of the invention.

I claim: 1. The sponge pouch formed from an integral sponge sheet, comprising superimposed rectangular panels connected at their outer ends to the adjacent panel edges respectively and integrally connected to each other along their inner ends, said integrally connected inner ends having a slit therein between connected portions, said slit communicating directly with said pocket and with the exterior through the space between said flaps.

2. The sponge pouch of claim 1 in which said flaps have side edge portions which converge toward said slit while terminating at spaced distances on each side of said slit and being spaced therefrom by the integrally connected portions of said flap inner edges, the tapered portions of said flaps being unconnected to said panels.

3. A sponge assembly adapted to receive and hold detergent cakes and the like, comprising superimposed panels of a sponge sheet material, said panels being united along three sides thereof to form an enclosed pocket between said panels, the other side of said panels providing an opening through which said detergent cakes can be introduced into said pocket, and inwardly extending lip means of: sponge sheet material secured to the panels along the sides defining said opening, said lip means being partially secured together along their inner edges to provide a smaller and second opening into said pocket.

4. A sponge assembly adapted to receive and hold detergent cakes and the like, comprising superimposed panels of a sponge sheet material, said panels being united along three sides thereof to form an enclosed pocket between said panels, the other side of said panels providing an opening through which said detergent cakes can be introduced into said pocket, and flap means associated with said opening and arranged to retard the outward movement of said cakes through said opening, said flap means comprising two flaps extending inwardly from said opening between said panels, said two flaps being partially unitedalong their inner edges while providing a second opening communicating with said pocket, said opening being of smaller size than that of said first opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 21,307 Arms Dec. 26, 1939 1,469,917 Dessau Oct. 9, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS 596,339 Great Britain Jan. 1, 1948 677,403 Great Britain Aug. 13, 1952 851,677 Germany Oct. 6, 1952 

